Wednesday, May 25, 2011

TRUCKS ACCIDENTS * New Zealand - Truck crashes raise fears

Two logging truck crashes in two days


Mangakahia,Titoki,Northland,N.Z.-The Northen Advocate, by Joseph Aldridge -25 May 2011: -- School authorities are concerned for the safety of their students following logging truck crashes on Mangakahia Rd on two consecutive mornings... Police suspect the first crash, which happened at Pakotai about 6am on Monday, was caused by a mechanical problem... Yesterday's crash happened about 10km up the road towards Titoki at about 5.30am... Figures from the Northland logging industry predict that the current 95 logging trucks on nearby Otaika Valley Rd daily are will increase to 226 a day by 2020... Police had not indicated there was any problem with Mangakahia Rd... The WDC is looking to run a education campaign, in conjunction with trucking companies, to get truck drivers to slow down on corners... The programme, which will start in the new financial year, will encourage truck drivers to take corners 10km/h slower than the speed recommended on corner signs... (Photo by Michael Cunningham - WOOD WORRIES: Mangakahia Area School manager Lesley McCardle is concerned about the safety of children waiting for school buses after two logging truck crashes in two days)